Amnesty calls on govt to ensure safety of Marma sisters

Amnesty International has urged the government to ensure safety and security of the two Marma sisters in Rangamati and launch a probe into their sexual assault allegedly by members of security forces.
In a letter to State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affair Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, it also urged him to release the girls to a safe and secure custody of their choice and ensure that they have access to appropriate health-care and counseling.
Local civil society organizations and community leaders reported that the elder sister, 19, was raped and her sister, 14, was sexually abused by the security forces on January 22 in a village under Farua Union at Bilaichhari upazila in Rangamati.
The two Marma sisters were allegedly confined to the Rangamati Sadar Hospital since January 24 and subsequently taken ‘by force’ from the hospital against their will and handed over to their parents on February 15.
“There is a significant risk that the forceful abduction of the two sisters will compound the trauma that they have already experienced,” read the letter.
The human rights watchdog also condemned the violent assault on the Chakma Queen Yan Yan and one of her volunteers, who were with the sisters at the hospital ward, on February 15.
Amnesty obtained a letter signed by the elder sister, requesting that she be released in custody of Chakma Raja Devasish Roy instead of her family because her family has been subjected to intimidation.